Fingernail polish applying mask



p 1957 J. c. PATTERSON FINGERNAIL POLISH APPLYING MASK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22. 1955 rrllnvllrlrliulllll m Z m a P W a ,7 m? J Y B m F Sept. 24, 1 7 J. c. PATTERSON 2,807,270

FINGERNAIL POLISH APPLYING MASK Filed Nov. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jane 6. Patterson INVENTOR.

BY R K-ML United States Patent Ofifice 2,807,270 Patented Sept. 24, 1957 2,807,270 FINGERNAIL POLISH APPLYING MASK Jane C. Patterson, Casper, Wyo. Application November 22, 1955, Serial No. 548,334 4 Claims. Cl. 132-885) This invention relates to manicuring equipment and is more particularly concerned with a fingernail polish applying mask intended to shield the hand or finger portion from the nails whereby the nail polish and polish remover may be readily and expeditiously applied and removed.

The primary object of invention is to provide a finger nail polish applying mask which extends around the hand of a person upon whose nails polish or lacquer is being applied, said mask being reversible to accommodate both the left and right hands.

A further object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a fingernail polishing mask which includes a pair of side members one of which including a plurality of aligned finger apertures accommodating the index finger, first, second and little fingers of the hand, the other side member including an apertured portion accommodating the thumb nail of said hand.

A further object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide in a fingernail polish applying mask of the character set forth wherein the apertures include a straight line portion of which the tip portion of a nail being polished extends, said apertured portions include a substantially arcuate portion extending from the straight line portion conforming to the cuticle portions of a fingernail being polished.

Still another object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a fingernail polishing mask which is readily and expeditiously placed over the hand of a person whose nails are being polished whereafter the nail can be readily polished by means of a brush or spray applicator after the application of such polish said mask being readily removable from the hand upon which the fingernails have been polished prior to the lacquer thereon having been dried.

A further object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a fingernail polish applying mask which is readily and economically manufactured, easily usable, highly satisfactory andutilitarian for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel nail polish applying mask;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section-a1 view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2 showing in dotted lines the approximate position of a fingernail being polished;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the relative 2 position of a thumb nail in one of the fingernail polishing apertures; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the novel fingernail polish applying mask when unfolded.

The novel fingernail polish applying mask is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a first side member. 12 secured at a fold line 14 to a second side member 16, the side members 16 and12 being connected at opposite ends along fold lines 18- and 20, respectively, to side members 22 and 24, respectively. The side member 22 is secured at a fold line 26 with a tab 28. The tab 28 includes an end 32 secured by means of a fold line 30 to the outer edge thereof. The fold lines 18 and 30 have extending therethrough oppositely disposed equal length slots 34 and 36, respectively, see Figure 5, and when the mask is assembled in the position shown in Figure 1, for example, the slots 34 and 36 are slid over each other whereupon there is provided a trapezoidal cross-section tubular mask as most clearly seen in Figure 2.

The heretofore described structure although having been described in a great deal of particularity merely defines a tubular shield which is slipped over the hand of a person whose nails are to be polished.

A plurality of fingernail receiving apertures 38, 40, 42 and 44 which receive the fingernails of the index, finger, second and little fingers, respectively, include a lower straight edge 46 which continues as a substantially arcuate edge 48, the edge 46 accommodating the tip of the fingernail thereover, see Figure 3, and the edge 48 conforming to the cuticle or fieshly portion of the finger of the nail being polished.

The mask shown in Figure 1 is for accommodating the left hand of a user whereupon the fingers of the hand are doubled over at the first and second knuckles and the ends of the nails extend over the straight edges 46 and the arcuate edges 48 of the apertures masking the fleshy portion of the fingers. The mask is used in a generally vertical position, the top of the mask being indicated at 50. With the fingers folded in the position mentioned the thumb extends upright adjacent the folded fingers and the tip of the nail extends through the thumb nail aperture 52 and over the straight edge 54 thereof, the arcuate edge 56 of the aperture 52 masking the fleshly or cuticle portion of the thumb on the hand inserted within the mask 10.

As previously mentioned, the mask is used in a substantially upright position, and after the left hand has been polished by means of a brush applicator or by means of spraying, this later method being especially adaptable with the novel mask, the tab 32 and side member 24 are detached by sliding the slot 36 and 34 apart whereafter the entire assembly is reversed, thus the right hand will be accommodated within the mask.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is' as follows:

1. A fingernail polish applying mask comprising a first side member including a plurality of aligned fingernail apertures conforming to the index, first, second and little fingers of a hand, each of said fingernail apertures including a linear edge upon which the fingernail overlies, the linear edge continuing as an arcuate portion conforming to the cuticle of a fingernail being polished, a second side member extending laterally from the first side member and having a thumb nail aperture extending through said second member, said thumb nail aperture including a 3 linear edge continuing as anarcuate edge conforming to the finger aperture edges of the first side member.

2. A fingernail polish applying mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the linear edges of the finger and thumb apertures are reversed whereby the thumb on the hand of a user is maintained in a substantially upright position to be extended through the thumb aperture, and the fingers to extend through the finger apertures are folded over on the hand of a person using the device and extend downwardly to be thrust through the finger apertures.

3. A fingernail polish applying mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nail polish applying mask includes a plurality of foldable members defining a tubular mask to he slipped over the hand of a user.

4 4. A fingernail polish applying mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the side members of the mask when folded in one direction will conform to a position of use for the right hand, and when folded in an opposite clirection will conform to a position of use for the left hand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

